Santa Clara County Fire Department

Los Gatos

Los Gatos Fire Station
306 University Av
Los Gatos, CA 95030

Built: 1964, remodeled 2002

station 3

Los Gatos aerial shot

photo: Captain Steven Warner, Jul 2000

Los Gatos station is one of the department's stations that has an extractor (special clothes washer) for cleaning turnout gear.

map 3

Click here for a more detailed MapQuest map

e3

Engine 3 is a 2003 KME with a 1250gpm (4740 l/m) pump and 600 gallon (2275 l) tank.

e3

The former engine 3 is a 1990 short wheelbase KME/Renegade with a 1500gpm (5685 l/m) pump and 750 gallon (2840 l) tank. The short wheelbase is required for use on the nearby curved mountain roads. It is now serving as reserve engine 110.

r3 r3 rear

Slang for the big bolt cutters:

The "Master Key".

Rescue 3 is a 1996 model by 3D Manufacturing. It differs from all of the other rigs in the department, having it's pump control panel mounted in the rear. It has a 1000gpm (3790 l/m) pump, and much of the same rescue and fire attack gear carried by truck companies.

b3

b3 interior

Battalion 3 is a 2001 Ford Excursion. Unlike the vehicle it replaces, it is equipped with low profile roof lights and strobe lights mounted inside the radiator grill and side strobes in the quarter panels, so no brushguard need be mounted to the front bumper, giving it a cleaner look. The interior photo shows some of the equipment available to the chief: cell phone, radios and laptop computer. The vehicle has a pull-out command center accessable through the rear doors from which the battalion chief can coordinate an event.

station 3

Los Gatos station just prior to it's renovation in 2002. Compare this photo with the one at the top of the page. While most of the renovation was interior (new living quarters), the new roof and paint can be seen above. In addition, the tall antenna was removed.

old Los Gatos station Los Gatos historical

old Los Gatos station old Los Gatos station

all Santa Clara County Fire Dept Archive

Four historic views of Los Gatos station. The first photo was taken 1964 or later. The second photo shows engine 3 and engine 103, June 1981. The third photo shows engine 3 and truck 3 in front of the station, just prior to the 1993 merger the Campbell Fire Department with the Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District. After the merger, truck 3 was moved to Winchester Station to become truck 5, and rescue 3 was placed in service at Los Gatos as the companion to engine 3.

engine 3
Santa Clara County Fire Dept Archive

Engine 3 (originally engine 33) served at Los Gatos. It was a 1968 Ford/Van Pelt, with a 750 gallon tank and a 750gpm pump.

engine 35
Santa Clara County Fire Dept Archive

Engine 35 (later engine 103) was a 1962 Ford/Van Pelt. It served at Los Gatos. It had a 1000 gallon tank and a 1000gpm pump.

b3

Reserve battalion 3 was a 1994 Chevrolet Suburban. It now serves as the department safety officer's vehicle, out of headquarters.

GMC battalion 3
Santa Clara County Fire Dept Archive

Battalion 3, a GMC, at Los Gatos station. In the full sized image you can see the old KME rescue 3 to the left, and KME engine 3 to the right. Date unknown.

Jeep Wagoneer
Santa Clara County Fire Dept Archive

This 1967 Jeep Wagoneer, car 7, was assigned to battalion 3 at Los Gatos.

e103.jpg
Santa Clara County Fire Dept Archive

Engine 103 was a 1971 gas powered IH, with a 1000gpm pump and an 800 gal tank. It was second out of Los Gatos. It served formerly as engine 12 out of Alum Rock. Engine 103 was staffed with 2 firefighters; staffing at Los Gatos during this era was four - two on engine 3 and two on engine 103.

red_engine3.jpg
Santa Clara County Fire Dept Archive

Engine 3, a 1971, gas powered International/Van Pelt with a 1000gpm pump and an 800 gal tank. It was later repowered and served as engine 8 and still later as water tender 4. Prior to this photo, it served out of Tully HQ as engine 102.

e3.jpg
Santa Clara County Fire Dept Archive

This 1979 IH/Van Pelt served as engine 3. It had a 1000 gpm pump and a 750 gal tank. It later served as engine 6 and reserve engine 102. It's body was taken from the former Quito engine 8, a 1965 IHC/Van Pelt. Photo circa 1982.

truck_3.jpg
Santa Clara County Fire Dept Archive

Truck 3, a 1982 Van Pelt. It had a 1500gpm pump and a 400 gal tank. It later became truck 5, and then reserve truck 111. Photo circa 1982.

antique iconHistoric Photos

For historic photos of Los Gatos' Fire Department, before it joined County, click here.

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